Gemotions

He smoothed down his shirt, a gesture he repeated several times before finally picking up the list. The paper crackled in his grip, a brittle sound that amplified the silence of the apartment. He wished he had brought a drink. This felt… important. He’d found the crumpled piece of paper tucked inside his father’s old wallet. A handwritten list of ambitions, desires, and experiences. A sense of disquiet settled in his stomach, a tight knot that refused to loosen.

He unfolded the paper. First on the list: *See the Northern Lights.* He imagined the vast, dark sky, the ethereal dance of colors. He wasn’t sure he could pull this off. He wasn’t sure he even knew where to start. His palms were slick, and he wiped them against his jeans. He had a long way to go, it seemed.